127 [ 23 ] 



Agreement with Mr. Dixon, referred to in the foregoing contract. 



If the old rails now standing on the mall between 7th and 12th streets 

 be not sufficient to complete the fence aronnd the grounds of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, I hereby agree to furnish to Mr. Joel Downer;, at my 

 own cost; a sufficient number of good rails to make up the deficiency. I 

 also agree to have made, at my expense, not less than two gates, at con- 

 venient points in said fence, to be hung on good and substantial gate-posts. 



JAMES DIXOX. 



Mr. John P. C. Peter appeared before the committee, and reiterated in 

 presence of the contractor, Mr. Dixon, his (Mr. Peter's) complete assurance, 

 as formerly expressed in his letter, (page 121,) that there was in his Bull 

 run quarry a sufficiency of rock to erect the buildings of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, of a tint not darker than No. 19 of the specimens appended to 

 Dr. Owen's report on the Potomac sandstones; a portion being of lighter 

 tint. He Avas informed that the committee adhered to their decision not to 

 use for the external walls any material darker than No. 19, but they did 

 not object to some portions of the building being of a lighter shade. He 

 was further informed that the architect, Mr. Renwick, and perhaps one of 

 the committee, Avould shortly visit Bull run quariy, for the sake of ascer- 

 taining, by actual excavation and otherwise, whether the supply from the 

 stratum in question was sufficient. 



And; on motion, the committee adjourned. 



TWENTY-NINTH MEETING— April 17, 1847. 



Present, Messrs. Seaton and Owen. 

 On motion of Mr. Seaton, it was 



Resolved, That the Corporation of the city of Washington, the Inde- 

 pendent Order of Odd-Fellows, the volunteer companies, and the citizens 

 generally, be invited to join in the ceremony of laying the foundation 

 stone of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The chairman stated to the committee that he had consulted Mr. Dray- 

 ton as to the actual size which the plates of the proposed volume on 

 architecture might be made, so as to leave adequate margin ; and that it 

 was found that they might be eleven inches by seven inches, (or, if neces- 

 sary, eleven inches by seven inches and a half.) 



Mr. Owen staled to the committee that he had written to Mr. Renwick, 

 instructing him to cause the perspective views of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution to be of that size. 



The chairman submitted an inscription, prepared by the superintendent, 

 for a plate to be placed under the corner-stone of the Smithsonian build- 

 ing. 



It was adopted, and is as follows : 



Inscriplien for the foundation-stone of the Smithsonian Institution. 



On the first day of May, 1S47, was laid, in the city of Washington, this 



foundation-stone of a building to be appropriated for the 



Smithsonian Institution ; 



FOUNDED BY BEaUEOT OF JAMES SMITHSON, OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



James K. Polk, President of the United States, 



